The Ron Artest media tour continued over the weekend, when the Kings small forward submitted his longest e-mail rant yet to ESPN's Marc Stein. Having already shared his regret over not opting out of his contract last month after learning he wasn't in the Kings' long-term plans, Artest expressed a desire to be traded and claimed he was "blinded by friendship" with the Maloof family that owns the Kings. Sacramento Bee
To those close to the team last season, the prospect of Artest being given a long-term extension in the summer was minimal at best. And if any of the public signs should have been heeded, it was the monthlong trade discussions with Denver before the February trade deadline. The sticking point on the Kings' end was their unfulfilled request for third-year forward Linas Kleiza, a reserve whose solid reputation remains built mostly on his promise. Then, as now, the Kings were more than willing to end Artest's Sacramento stay for the right deal. Sacramento Bee
While the Lakers continue to head the list of likely destinations for Artest, the combination of his expiring contract ($7.4 million) and his indisputable talent have led to increased interest than in February. Lakers forward Lamar Odom and his expiring contract ($14.5 million) would be the significant piece coming Sacramento's way in that scenario, though there are other similar opportunities that might arise for the Kings. Sacramento Bee
Miami is believed to have interest in Artest and be willing to part with Shawn Marion, whose $17.1 million deal also is expiring. As will be the case with most suitors, the question will be whether the Kings can include forward Kenny Thomas and his deal that includes two more seasons and approximately $18 million. Sacramento Bee
Heat: James Jones' deal, which could be worth as much as $23 million over five years, essentially starts as a two-year contract worth in excess of $8 million. Should the Heat drop the 6-foot-8 forward from the roster before the July 1, 2010 start of free agency, Jones would become a free agent and collect roughly $2 million for each of those remaining three years. He also has the right to terminate the contract after a fourth year should he be retained. South Florida Sun-Sentinel
With Lamar Odom mentioned in Lakers trade speculation, Wade acknowledged there still are times he thinks about his former Heat teammate. "I love L.O. as a person and, of course, as a player," Wade said. "We had one year together. I wish we could have had more. "It's a guy who I've always said it's a possibility when he left that he can maybe come back. ... A player like that, we would love to have a chance to get because he's so versatile." South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Orlando Magic have held serious trade talks with the Memphis Grizzlies about point guard Javaris Crittenton, proof that the Magic have abandoned any serious hopes of retaining combo guard Keyon Dooling. Dooling, Orlando's top reserve off the bench last season, blasted the Magic on Monday for offering him their Bi-Annual Exception, a contract that would be worth $4.2 million for two years. Florida Today
Dooling, who made $3.5 million last season while averaging 8.1 points and 1.8 assists, summarily rejected the offer saying he was "insulted" by it. "I don't even know why they offered that bi-annual because I rejected it right away. I don't know if they were trying to devalue me or whatever the case may be, but that wasn't acceptable," said Dooling, Orlando's top on-ball defender last season. "It's ridiculous. That's not a suitable offer for someone who was a good player on a good team. It wasn't a market value offer and that's the bottom line." Florida Today
To get Crittenton, the Magic would most likely surrender veteran shooting guard Keith Bogans and multiple draft picks. Orlando has a glut of shooting guards with Pietrus, Bogans, J.J. Redick and rookie Courtney Lee. Florida Today
Keyon Dooling, of course, saw his market shrink when Orlando signed Pietrus, so his best bet to get into a more aggressive price range would be Golden State (now looking for a starter) and New Orleans (especially if Pargo leaves). They can give him midlevel money. Meanwhile, the Nets, as you know, handed Eddie Najera a $3.4M jumpoff point, which leaves $2.18 from their MLE to give some worthy recruit. Newark Star-Ledger
We're told that Denver isn't ready to make a deal right now, even though the Nuggets know they have to eventually part with Camby. And when they reach that point, there is no guarantee that they'll want to deal with Kiki - the guy just took Najera away from them, and he didn't exactly have a lot of friends over there to begin with. Newark Star-Ledger
Deron Williams has said he would like to finalize an extension before he leaves either Saturday or Sunday for USA Basketball training camp in Las Vegas. Williams will travel from there to Beijing for the Olympics. McClaren said he has talked "several times every day" with O'Connor since the two met Wednesday and that no additional meeting had been scheduled. Salt Lake Tribune
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan voiced his disagreement with restricted free-agent guard C.J. Miles' decision to skip the Revue for the second consecutive summer. "He's not probably getting advice from me," Sloan said. "If he was, he'd be here." Sloan said Miles came into training camp "way, way behind" last year and said he hoped he'd learned a lesson about staying in shape. "If he's behind again, I don't know what to do about it," Sloan said. "We'll just pick somebody that's ready to go." Salt Lake Tribune
The Jazz have tendered Miles a $1.2 million qualifying offer to return this season, but Miles would like a multiyear deal. Miles' agent, Billy Ceisler, hasn't returned calls for more than a week. Sloan did suggest Miles remains in the Jazz's plans. Salt Lake Tribune
The courtship of Tyronn Lue proved fleeting for the Heat, with the free-agent point guard bypassing a scheduled Monday physical with the team. Pfund said the Heat had no plans to issue an offer to Lue, 31, and indicated the team would wait until later in the offseason to possibly utilize its $1.9 million lower-level exception, its lone remaining salary-cap chip. South Florida Sun-Sentinel
A day after saying he expected an offer from the Heat pending a physical, free agent Tyronn Lue decided against going through with that physical exam Monday, and the Heat now is looking elsewhere in its search for another point guard. That search could take some time, though, Heat general manager Randy Pfund indicated Monday. Miami Herald
Lue, bothered by a calf injury last season, said Sunday he would take a physical at 5 a.m. Monday, but he never showed up. He indicated he also was considering Boston and Phoenix. Pfund acknowledged there was interest, but the Heat never made an offer. The Heat could sign a point guard with its $1.9 million bi-annual exception or trade for one to complement rookie Mario Chalmers and veteran Marcus Banks. Restricted free agent Chris Quinn, who has a qualifying offer from the Heat, continues to speak with other teams. Miami Herald
The Rockets agreed to release center Loren Woods from his contract on Monday, then signed this season's first-round pick Donte' Greene before their first game in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League on Monday. Woods, who had been signed late last season to a partially-guaranteed contract for next season, had been receiving interest from several European teams and asked for his release. The Rockets had been considering him as a potential backup for Yao Ming, particularly if they are unable to sign free agent Dikembe Mutombo. Houston Chronicle
Ron-Ron is down-down on the Nuggets. The Nuggets tried to deal for Sacramento forward Ron Artest before last February's trading deadline, and he never seemed bothered by the prospect of playing for them. But not now. Rocky Mountain News
That Zach Randolph-to-the-Clippers scenario for a second-round draft pick reminded us of a few summers ago, when the Nets were in salary-dump mode and besides letting Kenyon Martin leave for Denver, also dealt Kerry Kittles to the Clips for a second-rounder. Fans screamed, with reason. This, though, is a little different. Dealing Z-Bo for essentially nothing would be simple addition-by-subtraction, unloading not only a salary-cap albatross, but freeing Eddy Curry, if you presume he can be of any use next season. Bergen Record
The 6-foot-10 Gallinari missed his first five shots before knocking down a 15-footer late in the third quarter. On the Knicks next possession, Gallinari, held scoreless in the first half, misfired on an open jumper. His best moment came in the final minute of the period when he jumped high for an offensive rebound and dunked it all in one motion. NY Daily News
In the fourth quarter, Gallinari showed off his ball handling skills by using a crossover dribble to beat J.J. Hickson to the basket. He sank five of his last six shots but oddly enough he was on the bench for all but the last seven seconds of the final five minutes. NY Daily News
With trade rumors swirling around Artest, I sent him an e-mail Sunday asking if would have interest in being dealt to the Nuggets. He wasted no time in giving a definitive no. "I cannot play in Denver because they question my drive to finish my career off strong and not embarrass my family,'' Artest wrote Sunday night. "Any player wants to win a championship is low risk.'' Rocky Mountain News
So what's that all about? I can't remember anybody on the Nuggets criticizing Artest. So Artest was sent another e-mail on Monday asking who on the Nuggets might have spoken ill of him. The e-mail also asked if his thinking means he won't consider Denver when he becomes a free agent next summer. Rocky Mountain News